Prosecutor In Jordan Sex Case Counterattacks

SHAKOPEE, MINN. — Scott County prosecutor Kathleen Morris lambasted state Atty. Gen. Hubert Humphrey III Wednesday for what she called his ``politically motivated``

attack on her office, and she vowed not to resign despite Humphrey`s allegations that she mishandled a widely publicized child sex-abuse case.

``I intend to continue to aggressively work to protect children in this county against . . . abuse, sexual or otherwise,`` Morris said, her voice shaking as she read a prepared statement at a crowded press conference. ``And I do not intend to be intimidated by the remarks of Mr. Humphrey, including his suggestion that I should resign, something I categorically refuse to do.`` She declined to answer questions.

Scott County Sheriff Douglas Tietz, who also has been criticized for his actions in the case, said Wednesday that his staff acted in a ``professional manner`` when investigating reports of a child sex-abuse ring in the tiny town of Jordan, 10 miles south of here. His deputies ``were required to act on the legal advice of the county attorney,`` he said.

Humphrey said Tuesday that after a four-month investigation, state and federal investigators found insufficient evidence to recharge any of the 21 former defendants accused of sexually abusing 40 Jordan-area children because the original bungled investigation failed to look for corrobating evidence. He also said there was no evidence to substantiate allegations that children had been murdered after being forced to appear in pornographic photographs, charges that arose out of the original case.

Humphrey said it was ``impossible`` to say whether guilty people are going free or whether innocent people were accused wrongly. He urged Morris to look ``to her conscience`` in deciding whether to resign.

Humphrey said that because the original investigation was mishandled, there was virtually no corroborating evidence and, more important, the children`s credibility as witnesses was ruined because of repeated questioning of them by prosecutors who may have suggested accusations for them to make and because of insufficient reports of that questioning. He called the case ``a tragedy.``

Morris said that because of the size of the Jordan case, more than the usual number of investigative interviews was necessary. At one time, 60 adults were suspected of sexually abusing 100 youngsters.

``Nevertheless, the suggestion in Mr. Humphrey`s report that children were subjected to dozens of such investigative interviews is simply false,``

Morris said angrily.

Records show that some children were questioned 50 times. In some cases, foster parents, therapists and even those who drove the children to interviews questioned them. But determining the consistency of the information gathered was difficult, Humphrey said, because there were no written reports of many interviews.

Experts say children may interpret repeated questioning as a demand for more information. Some youngsters in the case said nothing about being sexually abused until after they had undergone weeks or months of questioning. Humphrey said that while it is not uncommon for children to deny such abuse before finally complaining of it, such repeated questioning may have resulted ``in confusion of fact and fantasy.``

Morris also ``vigorously`` rejected the conclusion of Humphrey`s investigators that Scott County officials did not do their jobs properly and that innocent people may have been charged.

She said every criminal charge and every neglect petition filed came before a judge who ``found that, in fact, probable cause existed to believe that particular defendants were guilty of particular crimes and that the welfare of particular children was in jeopardy.`` Those familiar with court procedure, however, point out that signing such petitions frequently is a courtroom formality.

Morris also complained that state investigators were ``conferring freely`` with defense attorneys during investigation of handling of the case. ``This is all highly irregular,`` she said. Humphrey replied that the investigators were required to turn over information to defense attorneys in Family Court proceedings.

``The statements made by the Scott County attorney are not supported by the facts,`` Humphrey said Wednesday afternoon. ``The report is complete and accurate and is fully supported by the investigative files.``